Flow valve



July 9, 1940. c. s. cRicKMER ET AL FLOW VALVE Filed July 7, 1958 "J1 vu-.z-rxfoz Char/ es 5. Cra/@mer ,Q03 A. amb

l ttozmm Patented July 9, 1940- AUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE l 'l anula Y FLOW VALVE chai-less. crickmer. and any A. Lamb. Dallas. Tex., assignors to Merla Tool Company, Dallas,4

Application July 7, 193s, serial No. 217,959 somma.- (cl. 10s-232) This inventionrelates to new and useful improvements in ow valves.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved valve for controlling the admission of a lifting fluid, such as gas or air, into a liquid column, whereby said column is aerated and the liquid raised or lifted to the surface; the valve being an improvement on the prior patent issued to Charles S. Crickmer, one of the inventors herein, No. 2,144,144, January 17, 1939.

An important object of the invention is to provide an improved flow valve which may be mounted within a well tubing which tubing acts as a conductor for the lifting fluid; said valve having means for controlling the admission of the lifting iluid from the tubing into the well liquid column in the well casing and also having means for evenly distributing the lifting uid throughout the column, whereby more efllcient lifting of the well liquid is had.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved valve` wherein the outlet for the lifting gas is amplified or increased, which pievents choking or restricting the flow of the gas at the outlet, whereby a back pressure at the outlet, which tends to interfere with efllcient operation of the valve, i's eliminated.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved flow valve which is adapted to be mounted within the bore of a well tubing and which is provided with a plurality of radial outlet ports, whereby the gas passing through the valve is evenly distributed throughout the well liquid column so as to aerate the same equally throughout its cross-sectional area; there being means for centering or axially alining the valve within the well casing to maintain the gas outlet ports of the valve spaced from the wall of the well casing so as to assure an equal distribution of said gas as it is admitted to the liquid column.

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described, together with other features of the invention.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which an example of the invention is shown, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a transverse, vertical, sectional view showing a ow valve, constructed in accordance with the invention, mounted within a tubing assembly A is connected-in the tubing string II -since the valves are identical in construction,

only one has been shown. j

The flow valve assembly includes an elongate tubular housing or sleeve I2 which has its upper and lower ends externally screw-threaded, whereby said sleeve or housing may be connected in the tubing string II by means of suitable coupling collars I3. For Acentering or axially alining the sleeve I2 within the well casing I1. the exterior of said sleeve or housing is formed with vertical ribs or guide wings I4 which are preferably formed integral with said housing. The ribs are spaced equally around the exterior ofthe housing and, as shown in the drawing, three of saidv wings are provided, although the number is subject to variation. The outer surface of each guide rib or wing is adapted to engage the bore of the well casing IIIl. The upper and lower vends of this outer surface of each w are inclined, as shown at I4' so as to facilitate the lowering of the housing through the casing.

A n elongate tubular cylinder I5 is mounted within the housing I2 and this cylinder includes an upper section B and a lower section C, which sections are suitably connected together by screw threads. The bore of the cylinder is closed at its upper end by a cap member I6, while its lower end has a plug IIl screwed thereinto. The cylinder is disposed axially within the housing and is slightly longer in length than said housing, whereby its ends project into the tubing string. The bore of the cylinder I5 communicates with the interior of the well casing I0 through a plurality of radial nipples I8 which are preferably formed integral with the lower section C of the cylinder, being disposed near the upper end of said section. Three radial nipples I8 have been shown, but this number may be varied as desired, and each nipple is formed withI a radial port I9. The outer surface of each nipple abuts the wall of the housing bore and a flanged screw 20` passes through an opening 2I in the housing I2 and has its inner end threaded into the bore I9 of each nipple. With this arrangement, the screws or plugs 20 serve to hold the cylinder I5 in position within the housing I2. Each plug 20 is formed with an axial bore 22 which registers with the port I9 of the nipple to which said plug is attached.

It is pointed out that the plugs 20 are preferably located betwen the guide Wings or ribs I4 and a communication is thus established between the bore of the cylinder I5 which is located axially within the housing and the interior of the well casing I0. It is pointed out that the combined cross-sectional area of the three ports I9 in the nipples I8 is equal to or greater than the cross-sectional area of the bore of the cylinder I5, whereby when fluid is flowing through the bore and outwardly through said ports, no restriction of such iiow occurs as the iiuid enters said ports. This eliminates the creation or building up of a back pressure within the bore of the cylinder I5 adjacent the inner ends of the ports I9.

The plug I1 is formed with an axial bore 23, which has its upper end communicating with the bore I5 of the cylinder I5. Radial ports 24 extend outwardly from the lower end of the bore 23 through the plug I1 and thus a communication between the interior of the tubing string II and the interior of the well casing I0 is established through the ports 24, bore 23 of the plug I'I, bore I5 of the cylinder I5 and then through the ports I9 of the nipples |81.

For controlling the ow from the tubing to the casing, a tubular piston 25, having an axial bore 25', is movable vertically within the lower end of the bore I5 of the cylinder, that is, within the lower section C. This piston is formed with a valve head 26 at its lower end and said head is adapted to engage an annular seat 2l formed at the upper end of the plug and surrounding the bore 23 thereof. A coiled spring 28 surrounds the piston and normally holds said piston in a seated position, said spring being conned between the head 26 and an internal, annular shoulder 29 formed within the bore of the section C. A plurality of inclined ports 3l) are provided in the head 26 and communicate with the lower end of the bore 25'. When the piston is in its lowered position with the head engaging the seat 2l, the openings 3D are not open to the ow through the bore 23 and thus a ow through the cylinder is prevented.

When the piston 25 is raised, as will be explained, the valve head 26 is unseated and a ow from the tubing may pass through the inclined ports 3U and then upwardly through the bore 25 of said piston. This ow then passes through the ports l@ of the nipples l and through the bores 22 of the plugs 28, whereby it enters the well casing. It is noted that the piston 25 acts as a Velocity tube and as the velocity of How therethrough increases, the piston is moved upwardly under tension oi the spring 2d.

For metering the ow as the velocity through the piston 25 increases, a metering pin 3i extends axially through the bore of the cylinder l5 above said piston. The metering pin is carried by a piston 32, solid in cross-section, which has its upper end exposed to the pressure within the well tubing through ports 35 formed in the section B. A coiled spring 3d surrounds the upper end of the piston 32 and is confined between an internal shoulder 35, formed within the section B, and an external, annular iiange 3@ provided on the upper end of the piston. The spring normally holds the piston in the position shown in Figure l, which disposes the extreme lower end of the metering pin 3l adjacent the upper end of the bore 25' o the lower piston 25, when said lower piston is in its seated position.

In using the flow valves A in a well, plurality of the valves are connected in the tubing string II at various elevations therein. The well liquid which enters the lower end (not shown) of the well casing I0 rises to a predetermined level therein, this level varying with the particular conditions of the well. As the tubing string, having the valves A connected therein, is run into the well casing, a number of the valves will be submerged below the liquid level. At this time, the valves are in the position shown in Figure 1 with the lower piston seated and the upper piston in a raised position. Gas, air, or other lifting iluid, is introduced into the tubing string II, whereby the pressure thereof is built up within the tubing. The pressure of this gas or `air acts through the ports 24 in the plug I1 and also through the bore 23 of said plug against the lower end of the head 26 on the piston 25. The pressure of the well liquid within the well casing is of course acting through the ports I9 of the nipples I8 against the upper end of the piston 25.

When the gas pressure in the well tubing reaches a predetermined4 point, which is sufcient to overcome the pressure of the liquid in the casing, plus the pressure of the spring 28 acting on the piston 25, the tubular piston 25 is moved upwardly so as to unseat the head 26. Unseating of the head permits the gas or other lifting uid to flow upwardly through the ports 30 and then through the bore of the piston 25, from where it ows through the ports I9 of the nipples I8 and into the well casing to aerate the liquid column. Since a plurality of the ports I9 are provided, it will be manifest that the gas or other lifting nuid escapes, or is ejected from the bore of the cylinder in all directions, whereby said lifting uid is equally distributed throughout theA cross-sectional area of the well casing Iii. This makes for an even distribution of the gas or lifting uid through the liquid column, whereby a substantially equal pressure throughout the cross-sectional area of the casing is obtained.

As the gas strikes the liquid column, the well liquid begins to move upwardly through the well casing and as such movement commences, the load is lightened and the velocity of the gas or air entering the casing increases. The provision of a plurality of outlets into the Well casing prevents a back pressure from being built up within the bore of the cylinder around the metering pin 3i and therefore as soon as the liquid begins to move upwardly in the casing, an immediate increase in velocity of the gas owing through the cylinder is had. Since the gas or other lifting '.duid is owing through the bore 25' of the lower piston 25, the increase in velocity moves the piston upwardly under tension of the spring and, as it does so, the upper end of said piston moves upwardly with relation to the metering pin 3l which pin is stationary at this time. Therefore, as the velocity of the gas admitted to the casing is increased, the volume of gas entering said casing is automatically reduced in accordance with such velocity.

The piston 2d continues its upward movement until an external shoulder 3l on said piston strikes the internal shoulder 29 within the bore of the lower section C at which time further upward movement of the piston is halted. In this position, the upper end of the piston has moved with relation to the metering pin 3l so that the volume of gas or air entering the tubing is relatively small, although the velocity is comparatively high. When this velocity reaches a predetermined point, sumcient to reduce the pressure around the lower end of the piston 32, the pressure above said piston moves the same downwardly under tension of the spring 34. This downward movement of the piston causes a seat 38, which is formed on the piston above the pin 3|, to engage the upper end of the lower piston 25. When this occurs, further iiow of the lifting uid through the bore 25 of the lower piston 25 is prevented. 'I'he parts remain in this position until the well liquid in the casing rises sulciently to build up the predetermined pressure necessary to move the vpistons 25 and 32, after which additional lifting uid is again introduced and the operation repeated.

It is noted that the guide wings or ribs I4 on the exterior of the housing I2 serve to holdi the valve assembly A centered or axially alined within the bore of the well casing I0, whereby the ports I9 are at all times spaced from the wall of the well casing. If the ribs I4 were not employed, the housing I 2 might move to one side of the well casing and dispose one of the outlets adjacent or contiguous to the wall of the casing. The gas escaping through this outlet and owing at a high velocity might injure the well casing and, in some cases, it has been found that it will form a hole in said casing. It is again noted that the cross-sectional area of the outlet ports I9 is at least equal to the cross-sectional larea. ofthe cylinder bore, whereby no back pressure is present around the metering pin 3|. The elimination of any back pressure at this point permits the upper piston 32 to move downwardly when the predetermined pressure diierential thereacross, as has been explained, is reached. By disposing the ports I9 around the housing I2 at equidistant points, an equal and even distribution of the lifting uid throughout the liquid column is obtained, which results in a more eii'icient lifting or raising of the liquid wi-thin the well casing.

The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory thereof and various changes in the size, shape and materials, as well as in the details of the illustrated construction may be made, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention. A

What we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A well owing device including, a well tubing, an elongate housing adapted to be connected in -the tubing string andl lowered therewith into a well casing, external guide members on the housing for maintaining the housing in axial alinement with the casing, said housing having a plurality of radial openings therein, a tubular body of a smaller diameter than the housing mounted within the housing and having a passage therein which has'its lower end communicating with the interior of the well tubing, radial projections on the body adapted to abut the housing wall adjacent the openings in said housing and serving to aline the body axially within the housing, said projections having ports extending therethrough which lead from the passage and which register with the openings in 'the housing to form outlets establishing communication between the passage and the well casing, means removably mounted in each opening and engaging in the port registering with said opening for securing the tubular body within the housing, and means movable within the passage and actuated by the differential in pressure between the lifting iiuid in the tubing and the well liquid in the casing for controlling the flow through the passage.

2. A well owing device including, a well tubing, an elongate housing ladapted to be connected in the tubing string and lowered therewith into a well casing, external guide members on the housing for maintaining the housing in axial alinement with the casing, said housing having a. plurality of radial openings therein, a tubular body of a smaller diameter than the housing mounted within the housing and having a pas- .sage therein which has its lower end communieating with the interior of the well tubing, radial projections on the body adapted to abut the housing wall adjacent the openings in said housing and serving to aline the body axiallywithin the housing, said projections having ports extending therethrough which lead from the passage and which register with the openings in the housing to form outlets establishing communication between the passage and the well casing, the combined cross-sectional area of the outlets being substantially equal to 'the cross-sectional area of the passage whereby no restriction of flow from the passage through the outlets occurs, means removably mounted in each opening and its registering port for securing the tubular body Within the housing and means movable within the passage and actuated by the differential in pressure between the lifting uid in the tubing and the well liquid in the casing for controlling the ow through the passage.

3. A well flowing device including, a housing adapted to be mounted in a well tubing string and lowered therewith into a well casing, a tubular body mounted within the housing and having a passage which communicates with the interior of the tubing string, said body and housing having a pluralityof radial outlet ports which establish communication between the passage and the well casing, radial guide wings extending longitudinally on the exterior of the housing and disposed alternately with relation to the outlet ports, said wings being of sufcient length to project above and below the outlets and being arranged to engage the casing wall to hold said housing in axial alinement with the casing, whereby all of the outlets are spaced from the casing wall at all times to permit a flow therethrough, and means movable in the passage of the body and actuated by pressure diiferential thereacross for controlling" the flow of uid through'said passage.

4. As a sub-combination in a well flowing device, an elongate tubular housing having a plurality of radial openings disposed therein, and a plurality of radially extending vertical guide wings mounted on the exterior of the housing and.- located between the openings, each guide wing being of such length that its extremities terminate in a plane above and below the radial openings, whereby each wing presents an uninterrupted surface in the horizontal plane of the openings.

5. A well flowing device including, an elongate housingl havingv a plurality of radial outlet openings therein, radial guide wings on theexterior of the housing and disposed between the openings, a flow control means adapted to be mounted within the housing and having radial outlet ports arranged to register with the openings in the housing, saidow control means controlling the admittance of a pressure fluid through the openings and ports into the housing, and means extending through` each opening and removably mounted in its registering port for removably supporting the flow control means within the housing. y

' CHARLES S. CRICKMER.

ROY A. LAMB. 

